National Museum of Singapore

Original Building

Building, 1887

The front block of the museum building dates back to 1887. It features an elegant neo-Palladian design, a European style of architecture characterised by a highly symmetrical façade and the use of pediments above windows.

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Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale

Venice Biennale

08 Oct 2020 - 08 Nov 2020
Exhibition Galleries,
Basement Level
10am - 7pm
Last admission at 6.30pm
Free Admission
First presented in 2019 in Venice, Italy, Music For Everyone: Variations on a Theme, the solo exhibition of artist Song-Ming Ang, was held at the Singapore Pavilion of the 58th Venice Biennale, one of the most prestigious international contemporary art platforms. Ang’s practice explores the ways people relate to music on a personal and societal level.

In his work, music is used to investigate other issues, such as how public participation leads to productive modes of self-organisation, and how conditions of amateurism may generate unusual forms of knowledge.
Venice Biennale

The exhibition references a series of concerts organised by the then Singapore’s Ministry of Culture from 1971 to 1985 of the same name. For the artist, the idea of “Music for Everyone” is not just music that can be enjoyed by all, but also what could be created by the everyman – the amateur or non-professional.

The exhibition proposes a vision of art that is egalitarian, beyond state-prescribed musical forms and conventional notions of “worthy” art. This homecoming presentation features nine works that engage with structures and contexts of music-making, revealing how music can be a ground for ideological contest, capable of accommodating state agendas while allowing for agency, ambiguity and dissonance to emerge.

Family Time

Visit our permanent galleries with your little ones and play spot-the-artefact! Our colourful Early Learning Resources introduce pre-schoolers to our artefacts according to the themes of Numbers, Colours, and ABCs. Available at $8 per set from the Museum Label shop. For more children's activity booklets, click here.

Museum guide

Download our museum guide (English, Chinese, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil) to find out about the many treasures in our various galleries. In this guide, you will also find the floor plan for easier navigation. Enjoy your visit!